The study conducted in Birmingham, Alabama, revealed that intermittent fasting can lead to significant weight loss, reduced blood pressure, and improved blood sugar levels for individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Published in the journal JAMA Network Open, the research compared the metabolic benefits of intermittent fasting to the effects of commonly prescribed diabetes medications such as metformin and empagliflozin.
Participants in the study followed the 5:2 diet, where they ate normally for five days a week and fasted for two days, consuming only 500 to 600 calories on fasting days. After 16 weeks, the fasting group lost an average of 21 pounds, more than the group taking metformin or empagliflozin. The findings challenged the assumption that medications are more effective than lifestyle interventions in managing blood sugar levels.
Courtney Peterson, an associate professor of nutrition sciences, hailed the results as “exciting,” noting that lifestyle approaches like intermittent fasting can be more effective than drugs in lowering blood sugar levels. The 5:2 diet, popularized by British physician Michael Mosley, proved to be a promising intervention for individuals with Type 2 diabetes.
The study, which took place in China where diabetes prevalence is high, involved overweight and obese adults newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Participants were split into groups assigned to medication or the 5:2 diet. The fasting group consumed minimal food on fasting days, complemented by low-calorie meal-replacement drinks to ensure nutritional balance.
In addition to weight loss, the fasting group experienced significant reductions in HbA1c levels, a long-term indicator of blood sugar control. The diet also led to improvements in waist circumference, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels compared to medication. However, the researchers cautioned that further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the 5:2 diet for Type 2 diabetes.
While the 5:2 diet combined with meal replacements showed promise as an initial lifestyle intervention for early-stage diabetes, more research is necessary to assess its long-term benefits. Peterson emphasized the importance of consulting with a healthcare provider before embarking on such dietary interventions, especially due to potential risks such as low-blood sugar symptoms reported by some participants.
The study’s innovative combination of intermittent fasting and meal replacements highlights the potential for dietary interventions to improve outcomes for individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Variations of the 5:2 diet incorporating low-calorie meal-replacement products have shown promise in helping individuals manage weight and blood sugar levels. Peterson underscored the need for ongoing research to determine the sustained benefits of such dietary approaches in the long term.